Hair dryer



J. R. MANGO HAIR DRYER Dec. 13, 1966 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 |s Fig.3.

|NVENT0R Joseph R. Mango United States Patent C 3,290,794 HAIR DRYERJosephR. Mango, Midlothian, Ill., assignor to Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug.22, 1962, Ser. No. 218,720 8 Claims. (Cl. 34-99) This invention relatesto hair dryers, more particularly to portable hair dryers of thedomestic type, and has for an object to pr-ovide an additional functionfor such dryers, more particularly, the function of readily dryingpolish on the finger nails of the user.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the drying of fingernail polish.

In one form of the present invention, the hair dryer case comprises abase portion and a cover therefor, the two being hingedly joined at onemating edge, whereby the cover may be pivoted to open position to exposethe operating controls within the c-ase. ln a dryer of this type, muchof the mechanism is disposed in the bottom portion of the case and acover plate conceals and protects this mechanism. Preferably, the coverplate is provided with a raised portion of -generally frusto-conicalshape, this raised portion providing additional space for the usualmotor-blower combination. In .accordance with this invention, theinclined conical side wall of the frusto-conical raised portion of thecover plate is provided, in a limited area thereof, with a plurality ofopenings arranged in two groups through which air is -admitted to theblower. These entering air streams are utilized for the drying of fingernail polish.

The two groups of openings constitute the primary (and preferablysubstantially the only) rneans of entry of air to the blower below thecover plate. In accordance with usual practice with such devices, thisair received by the blower is translated thereby through a passage inthe casing, past a heater in such passage by which the air temperatureis raised, and the heated air then discharged through an exhaust openingin the casing from whence it is led by a flexible hose to a bonnet orhood worn by the user in a manner wel-l known in this art and hence notdescribed further herein.

Preferably, the two groups of openings above referred to are positionedin adjacent approximately 90 segments of the circular inclined sidewall, these 90 segments being preferably located in the front half ofthe inclined Wall and the entire frusto-conical structure is disposedrearwardly of the front -of the casing a suicient distance to provideroom at the front of the casing for comfortable support of the usershands while the iinger tips are disposed in close proximity to the twogroups of openings, the openings of each of the two groups servingtoprovide for air iiow over the linger nails of one hand of the user.

While it will Ibe apparent that the openings of each ygroup may beprovided in various shapes and arr-angements, in the preferredembodiment herein illustrated the openings of each group are in the formof a plurality of vertical, closely spaced, parallel slots, these groupsof slots presenting a pleasing -appearance as well as providing thenecessary function of permitting entry of air to the blower therebelow.By providing substantially all of the openings to the blower at limitedareas ol the inclined 'f The above discussed objects and other objectsare i eiiected by the invention as will lbe apparent from the followingdescription and claims taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a hair dryer incorporating the presentinvention, illustrating the novel use thereof, for drying polish on thelinger nails of the use-r;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the base portion of the hair dryer as sh-own inFIG. l, with portions of the structure broken away to more clearlyillustrate details of the construction; and,

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line III- III offFIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated |by the arrows, portions ofthe structure being omitted in the interest of clarity.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the structureillustrated therein comprises three basic elements; an air translatingand heating unit 1li, a 'hood 11 to surround the hair to be dried, and aflexible hose or conduit 12 for conducting heated air lfrom the airtranslating and heating unit 10 to the hood 11.

The present invention relates to the air translating and heating unit10, this unit comprising a casing 13 including a base 14 and a cover 16hingedly connected to the latter along one mating edge of the two parts.

The ibase 14 is adapted to rest upon a horizontal supporting surface ofany suitable object and is defined by a bottom wall 15 and front, rearand side walls 15a extending upwardly from the bottom wall 15. A coverplate 17 is disposed in approximately parallel spaced relation to thebottom wall 15 and cooperates with upwardly extending walls 15a of thebase to provide within the latter a compartment or chamber 18 in whichis housed the usual components for a hair dryer of this type. Thesecomponents include a blower 19 for translating air through the hose 12to the hood, a motor 20 for driving the blower 19 and heater 21 forheating the translated air prior to its flow through the hose 12.Preferably, the chamber 18 is divided by horizontal partition Z2 into anupper portion 23 housing the motor 20 and a lower portion Z4 in which iscontained the blower 19 and the heater 21. Both the partition 22 and thecover plate 17 are provided with openings 26 and 27 respectively thereinfor discharge of t-he heated air from the chamber lower portion 24- tothe hose 12.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 Iand 3, the cover plate 17 is provided with anupwardly formed Igenerally frustoconical portion 30 including a top wall31 and inclined conical side wall structure 32, although it will beapparent that it could have other shapes.

While, in some prior constructions, the motor and blower housing hasbeen provided with a perforated top surface for entry of air, thepresent invention has the top surface 31 of the raised frusto-conicalporti-011 30 solid without .any air admission openings, such admissionopen-ings in the therein illustrated construction bein-g providedexclusively in the inclined side wall structure 32 of the frusto-conicalportion. Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. l, these openings foradmission of air are in the form of vertical parallel slots 33, disposedin two groups 34 and 35, each group occupying approximately a segment ofthe inclined wall structure 32. These two groups of slots or 90 segmentslare preferably located in the front half of the side wall struct-ure32.

Preferably the approximately y90" seg-ments `of the wall structure 32which contain the two groups 34 and 35 of slots 33, are disposedslightly inwardly of the remainder of the incl-ined 'wall structure, tomore rapidly receive and locate the inger tips of the user, and toprevent accidental slippage of the linger tips circumferentially out ofalignment with the groups of openings'.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the partition 22 is provided with aplurality of openings 36 and 37 for flow of air from the slots 33 to theblower 19.

It will be noted that the raised truste-conical portion of the coverplate 17 is located somewhat rearwardly of the front edge of the base 14and also is spaced inwardly from the side edges thereof, with the resultthat the front and right-hand sides or edges of the base ser-ve as acomfortable support for the hands or fingers of the user when utilizingthe device for the drying of polish on the finger nails, in the mannerclearly illustrated in FIG. 1. From an inspection of FIG. 1, it will beapparent that the user may rest the base portions of the iingers on theedge of the base structure with the tips of the fingers resting on ythecover plate 17 Iadjacent the truste-conical raised portion 30.Furthermore, it will be apparent that the location of the openings inthe two groups above discussed, `and the arrangement of these twoIgroups in the front half of the conical inclined surface 32 providesfor ia natural disposition of the hands while the finger nails are beingdried. Consequently, this particular disposition of the two groups ofopenings is an important yfeature of applicants contribution.

By limiting substantially all openings for entry of air to the airtranslating device to the two restricted areas above discussed, there isprovided a concentrated flow of air over the finger nails of the userwith the result that the polish thereon is quickily dried.

It will be apparent from the above descrip-tion of a preferredembodiment of applicants invention that there is provided apparatus bywhich the iinger nail polish when applied to a users nails may bequickly and efficiently dr-ied, either at the same time that the hair isdried, or separately.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be yapparentthat it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for dryingpolish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the usershair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including abase, said base being :adapted to rest on a generally horizontalsupporting surface, 'a cover plate cooperating with said base to definea chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said coverplate hai/ing a generally frustoconical raised portion whose inclinedside Wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to thechamber of air to be translated by the air translating means, saidopenings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in closeproximity thereto, whereby nail polish 'applied to the nails of suchfingers will tbe rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just priorto entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means.

2. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for dryingpolish on the fingernails of the user iat the same time that the usershair is being dried, said means comprising: easing structure including abase, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontalsupporting surface, a cover plate `cooperating with said base to definea chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said coverplate having a generally frustoconical raised portion whose inclinedside wall has a plurality of openings therethrough `for entry to thech-amber of air to be translated by the air translating means, saidopenings being readily accessible to linger tips disposed in closeproximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of suchfingers twill be rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just priorto entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means,said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of theperiphery of said inclined side wall.

3. In `a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means tor dryingpolish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the usershair is being dried, said means :omprising: casing structure including abase, said base )eing adapted to rest on :a generally horizontalsupporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define achamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said coverplate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclinedside wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to thechamber of air to be translated by Ithe air translating means, saidopenings being readily vaccessible to finger tips disposed in closeproximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of suchfingers will be rapidly dried by the ow of air thereover j-ust prior toentry of such air through said openings to the air translating means,said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of theperiphery of said inclined side walll, said openings being the onlymeans for admission of air to the air translating means.

4. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for dryingpolish on the fingernails of the luser at the same time that the usershair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including:a ibase, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontalsupporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define achamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said coverplate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclinedside wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to thechamber of air to be translated by the air 4translating means, saidopenings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in closeproximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of suchfingers will be rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just prior toentry of such air through said openings to the `air translating means,said air entry openings being provided in la limited portion only of theperiphery of said inclined side wall, said openings being arranged intwo groups.

5. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for dryingpolish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the usershair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including abase, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontalsupporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define achamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said coverplate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclinedside Wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry tothechamber of air to be translated by the air translating means, saidopenings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in closeproximity thereto, wherebyv nail polish applied to the nails of suchfingers will be rapidly dried 4by the flow of air thereover just priorto entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means,said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of theperiphery of saidinclined side wall, said openings being arranged in twogroups, said two groups being provided in adjacent approximately 90segments of said inclined side wall.

6. In a portable domestic hair dryer, means `for drying polish on thefingernails of the user at the same time that the users hair is beingdried, said means comprising: casing structure including a base having abottom wall and upstanding side wall structure, a cover platecooperating'with said base to define La chamber, a blower and anelectric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate Ibeingdisposed in generally parallel relation to the base bottom wall andhaving a raised portion including a substantially fiat top wall and anintermediate side wall structure connecting said top wall with theremainder of the cover plate, said side wall struct-ure having twogroups of openings therethrough for entry of air to the chamber forcooling said motor and for translation by the blower, said motor beingdisposed :above the blower and extending within the raised portion Iofthe cover plate, said two groups of openings providing for Aconcentratedflow of air at restricted locations for rapid drying of nail polish on ausers fingers when the fingers are positioned adjacent said groups ofopenings, each group of openings comprising 'a plurality of parallel,

closely spaced, vertical slots of insutlicient width to permit entry ofthe users lingers.

7. In a portable vdomestic hair dryer, means for drying polish on theiingernails `of the user at the same time that the users hair is beingdried, ysaid means comprising: casing struct-ure including a base havingla bottom wall and Iups-tanding front, rear and side walls, a coverplate cooperating with said base to deiine a chamber, a Iblower and anelectric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate beingdisposed in `generally parallel relation to the base bottom wall andhaving a raised portion including top wall and an intermediate side Wallstructure connecting said top Wall with the remainder of the coverplate, said side wall structure having ltwo groups of o-peningstherethrough for entry of air to the chamber for translation by the4blower therein, said t-wo groups of openings providing -forconcentrated flow of air at restricted locations for rapid drying ofnail polish on a users lingers when the fingers are positioned adjacentsaid groups of openings, said two groups of openings being disposed inadjacent approximately 90 segments of said intermediate side wallstructure `and said adjacent 90 segments lying in the front half of saidintermediate side wall structure.

8. In la portab-le domestic hair dryer, means for drying polish on thengernails of the user at the same time that the fusers hair is beingdnied, said means comprising: casing structure including a base having abottom wall and upstanding side Wall structure, a cover platecoopenating with said Ibase to define a chamber, a blower and anelectric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate .beingdisposed in .generally panalflel relation to the base bottom wall andhaving a raised portion including a top wall and 1an intermediate sideWall strncture connecting said top wall with the remainder of the coverplate, said side Wall structure of `the cover plate having a vgroup 'ofopenings therethrough for entry of air to the chamber for translation bythe blower therein, the structure defining said chamber having anadditional opening therethrough for discharge of translated air from thechamber to the users hair, said group of openings providing forconcentrated iiow of air at a restricted locatio-n for rapid drying ofnail polish on a fusers fingers when the lingers are positioned adjacentsaid group of openings, said openings being of insuicient size to permitentry of said ngers.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 190,788 6/ 1961Carpenter 34-99 2,041,687 5/1936 Benson 219-39.13 2,466,915 4/ 1949Shields 34-99 2,673,402 3/ 1954 Chambers 34-202 3,006,079 10/1961 Jepson34-99 3,089,942 5./ 1963 Wrigglesworth 34-243 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,23011/ 1948 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner,

NORMAN YUDKOFF, WILLIAM F. ODEA,

. Examiners. 4J. P. ROBINSON, A. D. HERRMANN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A DOMESTIC HAIR DRYER OF THE PORTABLE TYPE, MEANS FOR DRYING POLISH ON THE FINGERNAILS OF THE USER AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE USER''S HAIR IS BEING DRIED, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: CASING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE, SAID BASE BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORT ING SURFACE, A COVER PLATE COOPERATING WITH SAID BASE TO DEFINE A CHAMBER, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCHAMBER, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL RAISED PORTION WHOSE INCLINED SIDE WALL HAS A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FOR ENTRY TO THE CHAMBER OF AIR TO BE TRANSLATED BY THE AIR TRANSLATING MEANS, SAID OPENING BEING READILY ACCESSIBLE TO FINGER TIPS DISPOSED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THERETO, WHEREBY NAIL POLISH APPLIED TO THE NAILS OF SUCH FINGERS WILL BE RAPIDLY DRIED BY THE FLOW OF AIR THEREOVER JUST PRIOR TO ENTRY OF SUCH AIR THROUGH SAID OPENINGS TO THE AIR TRANSLATING MEANS. 